This interactive map shows every passenger ferry route and terminal in Alaska. Across 62 unique routes serving 54 terminals, Alaska ferries carry around 809,411 passengers and 247,209 vehicles each year, ranking the state #20 nationally by ferry passenger volume.

The role of ferries in Alaska

Alaska’s ferries are the Alaska Marine Highway System — a network of state-operated ocean ferries that is the only way to reach many coastal Alaskan communities by road. The system runs more route mileage than any other US ferry network, including the 595-mile Ketchikan–Bellingham run that connects southeast Alaska with the Lower 48.

Every ferry route in Alaska

The table below lists every passenger ferry route serving Alaska in the latest National Census of Ferry Operators, sorted by annual ridership. Passenger counts combine both directions.

Notable Alaska ferry routes

• Busiest route: Ketchikan Side Terminal – Gravina Island Terminal (Ketchikan Gateway Borough) carries about 388,264 passengers a year.
• Longest route: Ketchikan – Bellingham is 595.0 miles (Alaska Marine Highway System).
• Season mix: 18 routes operate year-round, 44 are seasonal.
• Intermodal terminals: 9 of 54 terminals connect to local bus, rail, or bike share.

Ferry terminals in Alaska

The list below covers every ferry terminal recorded in Alaska, including the operator, ownership, and what intermodal connections (bus, rail, bike share, parking) are available at the terminal.

Biggest ferry operators in Alaska

• Ketchikan Gateway Borough: 388,264 annual passengers
• Alaska Marine Highway System: 324,120 annual passengers
• Haines-Skagway Fast Ferry LLC: 50,000 annual passengers

How Alaska compares nationally

Alaska ranks #20 of the 41 US states with ferry service. Just ahead is Delaware with 825,774 annual passengers, and just behind is Ohio with 792,384.

For the full national picture and rankings across all 41 US ferry states, see the complete US ferries map.

Neighbouring ferry maps

See the complete US ferries map for routes in other states.

Frequently asked questions

How many ferry routes are there in Alaska?

The BTS National Census of Ferry Operators records 62 unique passenger ferry routes serving 54 terminals in Alaska. Including both directional segments, that is 124 numbered route entries in the database (most routes are recorded once for each direction).

Which is the busiest ferry in Alaska?

The Ketchikan Side Terminal – Gravina Island Terminal carries about 388,264 passengers each year, making it the busiest ferry route in Alaska according to the latest census.

Are Alaska ferries free?

Some Alaska ferries are operated as part of the state highway system and run free for passengers and vehicles, while privately operated routes charge a fare. Click any route on the map above and refer to the operator’s website for current fares and schedules.

Where does the data on this map come from?

Routes and terminals are pulled live from the National Transportation Atlas Database published by the US Bureau of Transportation Statistics, which compiles every domestic ferry operator’s response to the National Census of Ferry Operators. The map updates automatically whenever BTS refreshes the layer.